Festus R-VI Hall of Fame Inductee - Capt. Carneysha Mendoza
2021 Festus R-VI Hall of Fame Inductee
Captain Carneysha C. Mendoza
Born January 8th, 1980, Carneysha Mendoza of the United States Capitol Police says she was always interested in law enforcement. She says her role models were University City police officer Jean Gibbs and Festus police officer Paul Wilkey, both now retired. Officer Gibbs mentored Carneysha and was a significant influence in her life. Officer Gibbs was the only African American female police officer Carneysha knew as a child. She set a great example for her. Officer Wilkey who had a horse that would shake his head “no,” when asked “what do you say to drugs?” was also big influence in Carneysha’s life. As a student in the Festus School District, Officer Wilkey would take Carneysha to speak to others as a D.A.R.E. role model. He also had conversations with her about law enforcement. After her graduation in May 1998, the Unites States Army came calling. Carneysha spent four years in the United States Army where she served in administrative and investigative roles. She began her law enforcement career in the Army, but, immediately after her discharge in July 2002, her interest in law enforcement led her to join the United States Capitol Police. As she approaches her 20th anniversary on the force, Carneysha has earned the rank of Captain and serves as the Commander of the Civil Disturbance Unit. In her current position she oversees protests, responds to civil unrest, and manages critical incidents. “Our agency is very unique, and I have always been proud to be a part of it” she says.
Throughout her career in the Army and in the Capitol Police Department, Captain Mendoza has been a part of history. She was part of the recovery efforts at the Pentagon following the September 11th terrorist attacks. In her role with the Capitol Police, she was awarded for her excellence in leadership after a shooting where multiple people, including a congressman, were wounded, and most recently she was acknowledged for her leadership during the Capitol riot. She has been a part of presidential inaugurations, state of the union addresses, and funerals for dignitaries. She has had the honor of meeting the last five Presidents of the United States as well as several well-known civil rights leaders. But she says the highlight of her career was being able to honor Rosa Parks as her body lay in honor in the Capitol rotunda. “To be able to honor her was an honor to me,” Mendoza said.
From officer to commander, Captain Mendoza has seen and done a lot during her nearly two decades with the Capitol Police Department. For six years, she served as a watch commander, overseeing operations for the department and making decisions on behalf of the chief, a job she found particularly rewarding. “I was able to oversee everything from operations to the restricted airspace in DC,” she said. Now, as a commander she is able to do something else she enjoys - mentoring others, which she does on and off duty. In her spare time she has mentored children with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America and teen moms with Young Life, D.C.
Persistent is a word that can be used to describe Captain Mendoza. In 2019, she was finally accepted to attend the FBI’s Leadership Academy, where she graduated on December 16th, 2021. This invitation came after 10 previous attempts to be accepted. Known as the premier law enforcement leadership school in the world, Captain Mendoza is confident her experience there will make her a better leader.
Her advice for students rings true for everyone, “Work hard and be honest,” she advises. “I didn’t make the best grades in high school. I’m not necessarily smart. I just work hard. Honesty and work ethic are important.”
Captain Carneysha Mendoza is now doing what she has always wanted to do. “This is my dream job, it’s my calling,” she says. Because of her hard work, leadership and perseverance, it is the honor of the Festus R-VI School District to name Captain Carneysha C. Mendoza the 28th member of the Festus R-VI Hall of Fame.